H4636
An Act to advance hate-crime protections for victims who are targeted due to their gender
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to strengthen hate crime protections in Massachusetts by specifically addressing crimes motivated by a victim’s gender. It seeks to ensure that gender-based bias is recognized and prosecuted as a factor in hate crimes, offering enhanced legal recourse for victims. The legislation clarifies the definition of hate crimes to include gender as a protected characteristic, aligning with broader efforts to combat discrimination and violence. It intends to provide a more comprehensive response to incidents targeting individuals based on their gender identity or expression.
Key provisions
- Expands the definition of hate crimes to include bias based on gender.
- Clarifies that gender identity and expression are protected characteristics under hate crime laws.
- Enhances protections for victims of gender-based hate crimes.
- Strengthens penalties for hate crimes motivated by gender bias.
- Requires law enforcement to consider gender bias when investigating hate crimes.
Who is affected
- Victims of hate crimes
- Individuals targeted due to their gender
- Law enforcement agencies
- The legal system
- Massachusetts residents
Notable changes
- Specifically incorporates gender as a protected characteristic in hate crime definitions.
- Addresses potential gaps in existing laws regarding gender-based bias in hate crimes.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Cosponsor
Michelle M. DuBois
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Bill H.4636 194th (Current)
An Act to advance hate-crime protections for victims who are targeted due to their gender
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on the Judiciary Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill History Cosponsors Committee Vote Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 3 actions for Bill H.4636
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 10/23/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on The Judiciary |
| 10/23/2025 | House | New draft of H1675 |
| 10/23/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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